Skin Cancer Awareness

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, a time to share information, encourage skin checks, and promote healthy habits. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide with at least one in five Americans developing skin cancer by the age of 70. Despite its prevalence, skin cancer is one of the most preventable forms of cancer, and early detection significantly improves outcomes; when detected early, the 5-year survival rate for melanoma is 99%. Raising awareness about skin cancer is essential to encourage protective behaviors, promote regular screenings, and ultimately save lives.

Skin cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably in the skin’s layers, often due to DNA damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. The three main types of skin cancer are:

• Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): The most common and least aggressive, often appearing as a pearly or waxy bump.
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): Typically appears as a firm, red nodule or a scaly, crusted lesion.
• Melanoma: The deadliest form, developing in the pigment-producing melanocytes. It can spread quickly if not treated early.

Several factors can increase the risk of developing skin cancer:

• Excessive sun exposure, especially without protection
• Use of tanning beds
• Fair skin, light-colored eyes, and a history of sunburns
• Family or personal history of skin cancer
• A large number of moles or atypical moles

When detected early, skin cancer is highly treatable. Melanoma has a high survival rate when caught in its initial stages. That is why skin self-exams and regular dermatologist checkups are crucial. The ABCDE rule can help identify warning signs of melanoma:

• Asymmetry: One half doesn’t match the other
• Border: Edges are irregular or blurred
• Color: Varied shades of brown, black, or other colors
• Diameter: Larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser)
• Evolving: Changing in size, shape, or color

Skin cancer is largely preventable by adopting simple yet effective sun safety habits. If you plan on being outdoors, even on a cloudy day, it is extremely important to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher). Also, make sure you reapply sunscreen every two hours, or after swimming or sweating. Wearing protective clothing, sunglasses, and wide-brimmed hats adds an additional layer of protection from the sun’s harmful rays. Seek shelter or shade between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest. 

Skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or ethnicity. Awareness is the first step toward prevention and early detection. By educating ourselves and others, we can reduce the incidence of skin cancer and protect our health. Remember... your skin is your body’s largest organ, make sure you take care of it!

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me, (903) 473-4580 or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu. To view upcoming events or additional information please visit https://rains.agrilife.org/ or follow Rains County AgriLife on Facebook.

UV Safety in a Texas Summer

The Texas summer is here, are you ready? Summer brings the longest days giving us more time to spend outdoors having fun; from vacations, biking, and hiking, or just enjoying ice cream, watermelons, or popsicles, summer brings memories of younger days and family togetherness. As we look forward to making new memories, we can plan for a safe summer by reducing the risk of harmful effects of UV exposure. 

UV Index. https://www.epa.gov/enviro/uv-index-overview

Ultraviolet light is radiation emitted naturally from the sun, but can also be man-made, an example being tanning beds. Classified in wavelengths, UVC light is blocked by the Earth’s ozone layer, but the sun’s UVA & UVB affect the skin differently with UVA causing wrinkling (premature aging) due to penetrating deeper into the skin and UVB causing sunburns. Overexposure increases risk of developing skin cancer.  Cautions are placed on the times of exposure due to UV radiation being strongest between 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

A benefit of UV radiation is Vitamin D production, which helps calcium and phosphorous to be absorbed by the body and helps in bone development. According to the World Health Organization, 5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2 to 3 times a week is recommended. Prolonged UV exposure can cause premature aging, cataracts, and skin cancer, not to mention painful sunburns. The most dangerous UV radiation is artificial indoor tanning. Take precautions before you head out the door for summer activities to reduce the risk of UV radiation by following some simple steps.

• Stay in the shade: Look for shaded areas under trees or bring an umbrella or pop-up shelter, especially during peak hours. Know the EPA’s shadow rule: If your shadow is taller than you are, UV exposure is lower.  If your shadow is shorter than you, UV exposure is higher. Remember that surfaces, such as water, snow, white sand, and cement, reflect the sun’s damaging rays and can increase chances of sunburn. Cloudy days do not block the sun’s rays, which are just filtered. In higher altitudes, UV exposure is higher due to less atmosphere to absorb UV radiation.
• Wear Protective clothing: Thanks to clothing, the skin is partially shielded from UV rays. Choose long-sleeved shirts and long pants made from tightly woven fabric. Be aware that wet clothes offer less protection than dry ones and dark colors offer more protection that light ones. To cover your face and neck, wear wide-brimmed hats.  
• Protect the eyes: Not only do sunglasses help protect the eyes from UV rays, they also reduce cataract risk later in life. Choose UV resistant sunglasses that wrap around and block both UVA and UVB rays; polarized sunglasses just reduce glare.  
• Use Sunscreen: Sunscreen works by absorbing, reflecting and scattering sunlight from our skin. The SPF (Sun Protection Factor) number measures how well it blocks UV rays, with higher numbers offering more protection.  Do not forget to check the expiration date, those without a date are good for three years, and less if they have been exposed to high temperatures. An SPF of at least 15, offers protection against both UVA and UVB (broad spectrum) radiation. Purchasing the right SPF sunscreen depends on what exposure you will be having fun in.  Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen twenty minutes before you head out. Reapply every two hours, after swimming, toweling off, or sweating.
• Avoid Indoor Tanning: According to the CDC, the UV radiation from “indoor tanning significantly increases the risk of developing melanoma, basal, and squamous cell cancers.”  It also causes premature aging of the skin and suppresses the immune system. 
• Learn about the UV Index: In as little as 15 minutes, the sun’s UV rays can cause damage to unprotected skin. Plan to check the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s UV Index by visiting https://www.epa.gov/enviro/uv-index-search to determine your favorite vacation spot’s UV radiation intensity. Rated on a scale from 1-11, suggestions are offered on to help you plan for your protection. 

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me, (903) 473-4580 or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu. To view upcoming events or additional information please visit https://rains.agrilife.org/ or follow Rains County AgriLife on Facebook.

Your Skin and Healthy Aging

Our skin is the largest and fasting growing organ in our body. It is imperative that we focus on taking care of our skin just like we focus on our overall health. As we age, our skin becomes drier and we lose elasticity in our skin, which may cause sagging and fine lines to appear.  The most helpful tips to keep in mind when preventing skin damage are:

• Limit direct sun exposure for longer periods of time and use at least a SPF30 sunscreen.
• Wash and moisturize your skin regularly.
• Sleep for 7-8 hours daily to boost a clear complexion. 
• Stop tobacco use and limit alcohol consumption.
• Drink plenty of water to keep hydrated. 
• Eat a healthy diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.

“A healthy diet shows with healthy skin”, says Elaine Montemayor-Gonzalez, Extension Program Specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.  Montemayor- Gonzalez continues, “What we put in our bodies greatly affects the aging of our skin, so foods with antioxidants and essential fatty acids are the most important foods to consider for keeping your skin healthy”. Antioxidants help prevent free radical damage, which can lead to skin problems such as sagging, wrinkled, or blemished skin. Some of the best antioxidant rich foods are berries, beets, spinach, kale, and 70% cocoa dark chocolate.

Other antioxidant rich foods that are also beneficial for healthy skin are loaded with fatty acids and vitamins A, C, and E. 

These essential nutrients all work together to help support, protect, and produce new skin cells for your body.

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids are healthy fats that naturally help moisturize your skin, keep skin flexible and protect from sun damage.  Try foods such as salmon, walnuts, and flaxseeds.
• Vitamin A can be sourced from food we eat through beta carotene.  Vitamin A helps with new cell production, growth, and helps prevent wrinkled skin. Excellent sources to include in your diet are sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, and mango. 
• Vitamin C is an antioxidant that protects your skin from oxidative damage caused by the sun, which can lead to visual signs of aging.  It also helps support collagen formation to keep skin strong and firm.  Vitamin C is added to many topical serums and creams due to its superpower to help reduce the appearance of brown spots, red marks, and skin irritations.  Top foods high in vitamin C include chili peppers, yellow bell peppers, tomato, lemons, oranges, and strawberries.
• Vitamin E is an essential nutrient with anti-inflammatory properties that aids in supporting cell function and skin health. Vitamin E is beneficial at reducing UV damage to skin and with the help of nutritious foods, can be absorbed better when combined with vitamin C. Vitamin E is also available for topical use in anti-aging creams, eye serum, sunscreens, and makeup. Sunflower seeds, avocado, salmon, trout, nuts, and olive oils are some of the foods with vitamin E.

Keep your skin and body healthy by adding a variety of foods to get the best all-around nutrition.  Your skin will age with time but preventing skin damage is key to a longer radiant glow. 

Try new recipes that incorporate more antioxidants and fatty acids, visit dinnertonight.org to help you plan your meals.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact me, (903) 473-4580 or email Sarah.Latham@ag.tamu.edu. Follow Rains County AgriLife onFacebook for additional information and upcoming events.